Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Canada
The Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada (Serbian: Српска православна епархија канадска, Srpska pravoslavna eparhija kanadska) is a diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church. As of 18 May 2024, with the elevation of Bishop Mitrofan Kodić to Archbishop of Toronto and Metropolitan of Canada his Canadian diocese is now the Serbian Orthodox Metropolitanate of Canada, the first in North America.
Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Canada | |
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Location | |
Country | Canada |
Headquarters | Campbellville, Milton, Ontario |
Coordinates | 43°26′04″N 79°57′51″W / 43.434372°N 79.964054°W |
Information | |
Denomination | Eastern Orthodox |
Sui iuris church | Serbian Orthodox Church |
Established | 1983 |
Cathedral | |
Language | Church Slavonic Serbian English |
Current leadership | |
Bishop | Mitrofan (Kodić) |
Map | |
Website | |
Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Canada |
Its headquarters (the Holy Transfiguration Monastery) and bishop's residence are in Campbellville, Milton, Ontario with the Saint Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Hamilton, Ontario serving as the cathedral church.[1] Its current primate is Metropolitan Mitrofan (Kodić).
History and organization
editThe Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada, part of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America, is an integral part of the Serbian Orthodox Patriarchate with its see in Belgrade, and accordingly answers to its national church, the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC), one of the autocephalous and canonical Orthodox Christian churches.[2]
The Serbian Orthodox Diocese in the United States and Canada was established in 1921. In 1963, it was reorganized into three sections and in 1983, a fourth diocese was created specifically for the Canadian churches.[3] This followed a period of growth in Serb immigrants to Canada following World War II, as well as a desire in decades prior for the Serbian Orthodox clergy to reach their parishioners more easily.[4]
The Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada was founded on May 26, 1983 at the behest of Sava Vuković, the then-bishop of Eastern-America and Canada. On May 16, 1984 Georgije Đokić was elected as its first bishop.[4] The Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada covers 33 parishes and missionary parishes.[4]
On May 21, 2009 the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church held a meeting for the restructuring of the existing Dioceses in North and South America. Based on its findings and recommendations, the dioceses were restructured in the following manner:[5]
- The Metropolitanate of Libertyville-Chicago , with its see at the Saint Sava Monastery in Libertyville
- The Eparchy of New Gračanica and Midwestern America, with its see at the New Gračanica Monastery
- The Eparchy of Eastern America, with its see in New Rochelle
- The Eparchy of Western America, with its see in Los Angeles/Alhambra
- The Eparchy of Canada, with its see in Milton
Churches
edit- Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church (Regina)
- Saint Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Cathedral (Hamilton, Ontario)
- All Serbian Saints Serbian Orthodox Church (Mississauga)
- Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church (Toronto)
- Saint Arsenije Sremac Serbian Orthodox Church (Whitby)
- Saint Stefan Serbian Orthodox Church (Ottawa)
- Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church (Montreal)
- Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church (Winnipeg)
Monasteries
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Diocese of Canada at SerbOrth.org." Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America. Retrieved on February 27, 2011. "Episcopal Residence: Holy Transfiguration Serbian Orthodox Monastery, 7470 McNiven Rd., RR #3, Campbellville, Ontario L0P 1B0"
- ^ Rhodes, Ran (2015). The Complete Guide to Christian Denominations. Harvest House Publishers. p. 328. ISBN 978-0-73695-291-0.
- ^ Lindner, Eileen W., ed. (2012). Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches. Abingdon Press. ISBN 978-1-42674-666-6.
- ^ a b c "Orthodox Diocese of Canada". istocnik.ca. Serbian Orthodox Church.
- ^ "Communique of the Holy Assembly of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church". serborth.org. 21 May 2009.
Sources
edit- Vuković, Sava (1998). History of the Serbian Orthodox Church in America and Canada 1891–1941. Kragujevac: Kalenić.